AFTER scoring an emphatic win over one of the conference’s steadier squads the last time out, Phoenix now believes it can still come up with a big turnaround.
“Like what I always say, the most important game is the next game,” Fuel Masters coach Jamike Jarin said after his wards stunned the NLEX Road Warriors with a 112-77 dismantling four days ago and improved their mark to 3-5 in a three-way time with Blackwater and Meralco for ninth. “We have to rest our bodies and prepare for our game against TNT.
“It’s not gonna be easy. We’ll work hardest and hopefully we get another win,” he added.
Whether Phoenix can keep its hopes alive for a quarterfinal berth will be known when it squares off with TNT today in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
The match is set at 7:30 p.m. after skidding teams NorthPort and Terrafirma clash in the curtain-raiser at 4:30.
Against NLEX, Phoenix boomed in 17 three-pointers due to their unselfish play, according to Jarin.
“We just found the open man,” Jarin said. “We talked about it previously. We moved the ball very well.
“We had some great shots going into this game. I’m just happy that we were able to convert.”
The Fuel Masters are expected to draw A-Game from the likes of veteran RJ Jazul, Kenneth Tuffin, Jayjay Alejandro, Kent Salado, Jason Perkins, and Javee Mocon.
“Kami, whoever is open, we move the ball lang,” Jazul said.
The Tropang Giga will go into the duel aching to atone for a sorry 83-87 loss to the Ginebra Kings last Friday that dropped them to 4-4 for sixth in the homestretch of the eliminations of the season-ending meet.
TNT will pin its hopes on Calvin Oftana, Roger Pogoy, Jayson Castro, Kelly Williams, and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser.
The Batang Pier’s bid is fast going south after they kicked off their stint with an unbeaten 4-0 card.
NorthPort fell to defending champion San Miguel Beer 100-120 last Sunday–their fourth in a row.
Arvin Tolentino. Zavier Lucero, Allyn Bulandi, and Joshua Munzon will be counted upon by the Batang Pier.
The Dyip absorbed back-to-back defeats, counting a 104-116 last April 16.
Terrafirma will rely on Juami Tiongson, Stephen Holt, Javi Gomez de Liaño, and Isaac Go in its attempt to boost its 4-5 slate.
It’s nearly crunch time for the teams in the lower half of the race for the playoffs. Who will heed the call?
